Sales and Trade

You people say that Abu Huraira tells many narrations from Allah's
Apostle and you also wonder why the emigrants and Ansar do not narrate
from Allah's Apostle as Abu Huraira does. My emigrant brothers were
busy in the market while I used to stick to Allah's Apostle content
with what fills my stomach; so I used to be present when they were
absent and I used to remember when they used to forget, and my Ansari
brothers used to be busy with their properties and I was one of the
poor men of Suffa. I used to remember the narrations when they used to
forget. No doubt, Allah's Apostle once said, "Whoever spreads his
garment till I have finished my present speech and then gathers it to
himself, will remember whatever I will say." So, I spread my colored
garment which I was wearing till Allah's Apostle had finished his
saying, and then I gathered it to my chest. So, I did not forget any
of that narrations.

Abdur Rahman bin Auf said, "When we came to Medina as emigrants,
Allah's Apostle established a bond of brotherhood between me and Sad
bin Ar-Rabi'. Sad bin Ar-Rabi' said (to me), 'I am the richest among
the Ansar, so I will give you half of my wealth and you may look at my
two wives and whichever of the two you may choose I will divorce her,
and when she has completed the prescribed period (before marriage) you
may marry her.' Abdur-Rahman replied, "I am not in need of all that.
Is there any market-place where trade is practiced?' He replied, "The
market of Qainuqa." Abdur-Rahman went to that market the following day
and brought some dried butter-milk (yogurt) and butter, and then he
continued going there regularly. Few days later, 'AbdurRahman came
having traces of yellow (scent) on his body. Allah's Apostle asked him
whether he had got married. He replied in the affirmative. The Prophet
said, 'Whom have you married?' He replied, 'A woman from the Ansar.'
Then the Prophet asked, 'How much did you pay her?' He replied, '(I
gave her) a gold piece equal in weigh to a date stone (or a date stone
of gold)! The Prophet said, 'Give a Walima (wedding banquet) even if
with one sheep .' "

When Abdur-Rahman bin Auf came to Medina, the Prophet established a
bond of brotherhood between him and Sad bin Ar-Rabi al-Ansari. Sad was
a rich man, so he said to 'Abdur-Rahman, "I will give you half of my
property and will help you marry." 'Abdur-Rahman said (to him), "May
Allah bless you in your family and property. Show me the market." So
'Abdur-Rahman did not return from the market) till he gained some
dried buttermilk (yoghurt) and butter (through trading). He brought
that to his house-hold. We stayed for some-time (or as long as Allah
wished), and then Abdur-Rahman came, scented with yellowish perfume.
The Prophet said (to him) "What is this?" He replied, "I got married
to an Ansari woman." The Prophet asked, "What did you pay her?" He
replied, "A gold stone or gold equal to the weight of a date stone."
The Prophet said (to him), "Give a wedding banquet even if with one
sheep."

'Ukaz, Majanna and Dhul-Majaz were market-places in the Pre-lslamic
period of ignorance. When Islam came, Muslims felt that marketing
there might be a sin. So, the Divine Inspiration came: "There is no
harm for you to seek the bounty of your Lord (in the seasons of
Hajj)." (2.198) Ibn 'Abbas recited the Verse in this way.

The Prophet said "Both legal and illegal things are obvious, and in
between them are (suspicious) doubtful matters. So who-ever forsakes
those doubtful things lest he may commit a sin, will definitely avoid
what is clearly illegal; and who-ever indulges in these (suspicious)
doubtful things bravely, is likely to commit what is clearly illegal.
Sins are Allah's Hima (i.e. private pasture) and whoever pastures (his
sheep) near it, is likely to get in it at any moment."

Utba bin Abu Waqqas took a firm promise from his brother Sad bin Abu
Waqqas to take the son of the slave-girl of Zam'a into his custody as
he was his (i.e. 'Utba's) son. In the year of the Conquest (of Mecca)
Sad bin Abu Waqqas took him, and said that he was his brother's son,
and his brother took a promise from him to that effect. 'Abu bin Zam'a
got up and said, "He is my brother and the son of the slave-girl of my
father and was born on my father's bed." Then they both went to the
Prophet Sad said, "O Allah's Apostle! He is the son of my brother and
he has taken a promise from me that I will take him." 'Abu bin Zam'a
said, "(He is) my brother and the son of my father's slave-girl and
was born on my father's bed." Allah's Apostle said, "The boy is for
you. O 'Abu bin Zam'a." Then the Prophet said, "The son is for the bed
(i.e the man on whose bed he was born) and stones (disappointment and
deprivation) for the one who has done illegal sexual intercourse." The
Prophet told his wife Sauda bint Zam'a to screen herself from that boy
as he noticed a similarity between the boy and 'Utba. So, the boy did
not see her till he died.

I asked Allah's Apostle about Al Mirad (i.e. a sharp-edged piece of
wood or a piece of wood provided with a piece of iron used for
hunting). He replied, "If the game is hit by its sharp edge, eat it,
and if it is hit by its broad side, do not eat it, for it has been
beaten to death." I asked, "O Allah's Apostle! I release my dog by the
name of Allah and find with it at the game, another dog on which I
have not mentioned the name of Allah, and I do not know which one of
them caught the game." Allah's Apostle said (to him), 'Don't eat it as
you have mentioned the name of Allah on your dog and not on the other
dog."

The Prophet passed by a fallen date and said, "Were it not for my
doubt that this might have been given in charity, I would have eaten
it." And narrated Abu Huraira the Prophet said, "I found a date-fruit
fallen on my bed."

that his uncle said: "The Prophet was asked: If a person feels
something during his prayer; should one interrupt his prayer?" The
Prophet said: No! You should not give it up unless you hear a sound or
smell something." Narrated Ibn Abi Hafsa: Az-Zuhri said, "There is no
need of repeating ablution unless you detect a smell or hear a
sound."

Some people said, "O Allah's Apostle! Meat is brought to us by some
people and we are not sure whether the name of Allah has been
mentioned on it or not (at the time of slaughtering the animals)."
Allah's Apostle said (to them), "Mention the name of Allah and eat
it."

While we were offering the prayer with the Prophet a caravan carrying
food came from Sham. The people looked towards the caravan (and went
to it) and only twelve persons remained with the Prophet. So, the
Divine Inspiration came; "But when they see some bargain or some
amusement, they disperse headlong to it." (62.11)

I used to practice money exchange, and I asked Zaid bin 'Arqam about
it, and he narrated what the Prophet said in the following: Abu
Al-Minhal said, "I asked Al-Bara' bin 'Azib and Zaid bin Arqam about
practicing money exchange. They replied, 'We were traders in the time
of Allah's Apostle and I asked Allah's Apostle about money exchange.
He replied, 'If it is from hand to hand, there is no harm in it;
otherwise it is not permissible."

Abu Musa asked Umar to admit him but he was not admitted as 'Umar was
busy, so Abu Musa went back. When 'Umar finished his job he said,
"Didn't I hear the voice of 'Abdullah bin Qais? Let him come in."
'Umar was told that he had left. So, he sent for him and on his
arrival, he (Abu Musa) said, "We were ordered to do so (i.e. to leave
if not admitted after asking permission thrice). 'Umar told him,
"Bring witness in proof of your statement." Abu Musa went to the
Ansar's meeting places and asked them. They said, "None amongst us
will give this witness except the youngest of us, Abu Said Al-Khudri.
Abu Musa then took Abu Said Al-Khudri (to 'Umar) and 'Umar said,
surprisingly, "Has this order of Allah's Apostle been hidden from me?"
(Then he added), "I used to be busy trading in markets."

A caravan arrived (at Medina) while we were offering the Jumua prayer
with the Prophet. The people left out for the caravan, with the
exception of twelve persons. Then this Verse was revealed: 'But when
they see some bargain or some amusement, they disperse headlong to it
and leave you standing." (62.11)

The Prophet said, "If a woman gives in charity from her house meals
without wasting (i.e. being extravagant), she will get the reward for
her giving, and her husband will also get the reward for his earning
and the storekeeper will also get a similar reward. The acquisition of
the reward of none of them will reduce the reward of the others."

Anas went to the Prophet with barley bread having some dissolved fat
on it. The Prophet had mortgaged his armor to a Jew in Medina and took
from him some barley for his family. Anas heard him saying, "The
household of Muhammad did not possess even a single Sa of wheat or
food grains for the evening meal, although he has nine wives to look
after." (See Hadith No. 685)

When Abu Bakr As-Siddiq was chosen Caliph, he said, "My people know
that my profession was not incapable of providing substance to my
family. And as I will be busy serving the Muslim nation, my family
will eat from the National Treasury of Muslims, and I will practise
the profession of serving the Muslims."

The Prophet said, "Before your time the angels received the soul of a
man and asked him, 'Did you do any good deeds (in your life)?' He
replied, 'I used to order my employees to grant time to the rich
person to pay his debts at his convenience.' So Allah said to the
angels; "Excuse him." Rabi said that (the dead man said), 'I used to
be easy to the rich and grant time to the poor.' Or, in another
narration, 'grant time to the well-off and forgive the needy,' or,
'accept from the well-off and forgive the needy.'

The Prophet said, "There was a merchant who used to lend the people,
and whenever his debtor was in straitened circumstances, he would say
to his employees, 'Forgive him so that Allah may forgive us.' So,
Allah forgave him."

Allah's Apostle said, "The seller and the buyer have the right to keep
or return goods as long as they have not parted or till they part; and
if both the parties spoke the truth and described the defects and
qualities (of the goods), then they would be blessed in their
transaction, and if they told lies or hid something, then the
blessings of their transaction would be lost."

We used to be given mixed dates (from the booty) and used to sell
(barter) two Sas of those dates) for one Sa (of good dates). The
Prophet said (to us), "No (bartering of) two Sas for one Sa nor two
Dirhams for one Dirham is permissible", (as that is a kind of usury).
(See Hadith No. 405).

An Ansari man, called Abu Shu'aib, came and told his butcher slave,
"Prepare meals sufficient for five persons, for I want to invite the
Prophet along with four other persons as I saw signs of hunger on his
face." Abu Shu'aib invited them and another person came along with
them. The Prophet said (to Abu Shu'aib), This man followed us, so if
you allow him, he will join us, and if you want him to return, he will
go back." Abu Shu'aib said, "No, I have allowed him (i.e. he, too, is
welcomed to the meal)."

The Prophet aid, "The buyer and the seller have the option to cancel
or to confirm the deal, as long as they have not parted or till they
part, and if they spoke the truth and told each other the defects of
the things, then blessings would be in their deal, and if they hid
something and told lies, the blessing of the deal would be lost."

The Prophet said, "This night I dreamt that two men came and took me
to a Holy land whence we proceeded on till we reached a river of
blood, where a man was standing, and on its bank was standing another
man with stones in his hands. The man in the middle of the river
tried to come out, but the other threw a stone in his mouth and forced
him to go back to his original place. So, whenever he tried to come
out, the other man would throw a stone in his mouth and force him to
go back to his former place. I asked, 'Who is this?' I was told, 'The
person in the river was a Riba-eater."

My father bought a slave who practiced the profession of cupping. (My
father broke the slave's instruments of cupping). I asked my father
why he had done so. He replied, "The Prophet forbade the acceptance of
the price of a dog or blood, and also forbade the profession of
tattooing, getting tattooed and receiving or giving Riba, (usury), and
cursed the picture-makers."

A man displayed some goods in the market and swore by Allah that he
had been offered so much for that, that which was not offered, and he
said so, so as to cheat a Muslim. On that occasion the following Verse
was revealed: "Verily! Those who purchase a small gain at the cost of
Allah's covenant and their oaths (They shall have no portion in the
Hereafter ..etc.)' (3.77)

I got an old she-camel as my share from the booty, and the Prophet had
given me another from Al-Khumus. And when I intended to marry Fatima
(daughter of the Prophet), I arranged that a goldsmith from the tribe
of Bani Qainuqa' would accompany me in order to bring Idhkhir and then
sell it to the goldsmiths and use its price for my marriage banquet.

Allah's Apostle said, "Allah made Mecca a sanctuary and it was neither
permitted for anyone before, nor will it be permitted for anyone after
me (to fight in it). And fighting in it was made legal for me for a
few hours of a day only. None is allowed to uproot its thorny shrubs
or to cut down its trees or to chase its game or to pick up its Luqata
(fallen things) except by a person who would announce it publicly."
'Abbas bin 'Abdul-Muttlib requested the Prophet, "Except Al-Idhkhir,
for our goldsmiths and for the roofs of our houses." The Prophet said,
"Except Al-Idhkhir." 'Ikrima said, "Do you know what is meant by
chasing its game? It is to drive it out of the shade and sit in its
place." Khalid said, "('Abbas said: Al-Idhkhir) for our goldsmiths and
our graves."

I was a blacksmith in the Pre-lslamic period, and 'Asi bin Wail owed
me some money, so I went to him to demand it. He said (to me), "I will
not pay you unless you disbelieve Muhammad." I said, "I will not
disbelieve till Allah kills you and then you get resurrected." He
said, "Leave me till I die and get resurrected, then I will be given
wealth and children and I will pay you your debt." On that occasion it
was revealed to the Prophet:

'Have you seen him who disbelieved in Our signs and says: Surely I
will be given wealth and children? Has he known the unseen, or has he
taken a covenant from the Beneficent (Allah)? (19.77-78)

I heard Anas bin Malik saying, "A tailor invited Allah's Apostle to a
meal which he had prepared. " Anas bin Malik said, "I accompanied
Allah's Apostle to that meal. He served the Prophet with bread and
soup made with gourd and dried meat. I saw the Prophet taking the
pieces of gourd from the dish." Anas added, "Since that day I have
continued to like gourd."

I heard Sahl bin Sad saying, "A woman brought a Burda (i.e. a square
piece of cloth having edging). I asked, 'Do you know what a Burda is?'
They replied in the affirmative and said, "It is a cloth sheet with
woven margins." Sahl went on, "She addressed the Prophet and said, 'I
have woven it with my hands for you to wear.' The Prophet took it as
he was in need of it, and came to us wearing it as a waist sheet. One
of us said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Give it to me to wear.' The Prophet
agreed to give it to him. The Prophet sat with the people for a while
and then returned (home), wrapped that waist sheet and sent it to him.
The people said to that man, 'You haven't done well by asking him for
it when you know that he never turns down anybody's request.' The man
replied, 'By Allah, I have not asked him for it except to use it as my
shroud when I die." Sahl added; "Later it (i.e. that sheet) was his
shroud."

Some men came to Sahl bin Sad to ask him about the pulpit. He replied,
"Allah's Apostle sent for a woman (Sahl named her) (this message):
'Order your slave carpenter to make pieces of wood (i.e. a pulpit) for
me so that I may sit on it while addressing the people.' So, she
ordered him to make it from the tamarisk of the forest. He brought it
to her and she sent it to Allah's Apostle . Allah's Apostle ordered it
to be placed in the mosque: so, it was put and he sat on it.

Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah: An Ansari woman said to Allah's Apostle,
"O Allah's Apostle! Shall I make something for you to sit on, as I
have a slave who is a carpenter?" He replied, "If you wish." So, she
got a pulpit made for him. When it was Friday

I was with the Prophet in a Ghazwa (Military Expedition) and my camel
was slow and exhausted. The Prophet came up to me and said, "O Jabir."
I replied, "Yes?" He said, "What is the matter with you?" I replied,
"My camel is slow and tired, so I am left behind." So, he got down and
poked the camel with his stick and then ordered me to ride. I rode the
camel and it became so fast that I had to hold it from going ahead of
Allah's Apostle . He then asked me, have you got married?" I replied
in the affirmative. He asked, "A virgin or a matron?" I replied, "I
married a matron." The Prophet said, "Why have you not married a
virgin, so that you may play with her and she may play with you?"
Jabir replied, "I have sisters (young in age) so I liked to marry a
matron who could collect them all and comb their hair and look after
them." The Prophet said, "You will reach, so when you have arrived (at
home), I advise you to associate with your wife (that you may have an
intelligent son)." Then he asked me, "Would you like to sell your
camel?" I replied in the affirmative and the Prophet purchased it for
one Uqiya of gold. Allah's Apostle reached before me and I reached in
the morning, and when I went to the mosque, I found him at the door of
the mosque. He asked me, "Have you arrived just now?" I replied in the
affirmative. He said, "Leave your camel and come into (the mosque) and
pray two Rakat." I entered and offered the prayer. He told Bilal to
weigh and give me one Uqiya of gold. So Bilal weighed for me fairly
and I went away. The Prophet sent for me and I thought that he would
return to me my camel which I hated more than anything else. But the
Prophet said to me, "Take your camel as well as its price."

'Ukaz, Majanna and Dhul-Majaz were markets in the Pre-lslamic period.
When the people embraced Islam they considered it a sin to trade
there. So, the following Holy Verse came:-- 'There is no harm for you
if you seek of the bounty of your Lord (Allah) in the Hajj season."
(2.198) Ibn 'Abbas recited it like this.

Here (i.e. in Mecca) there was a man called Nawwas and he had camels
suffering from the disease of excessive and unquenchable thirst. Ibn
'Umar went to the partner of Nawwas and bought those camels. The man
returned to Nawwas and told him that he had sold those camels. Nawwas
asked him, "To whom have you sold them?" He replied, "To such and such
Sheikh." Nawwas said, "Woe to you; By Allah, that Sheikh was Ibn
'Umar." Nawwas then went to Ibn 'Umar and said to him, "My partner
sold you camels suffering from the disease of excessive thirst and he
had not known you." Ibn 'Umar told him to take them back. When Nawwas
went to take them, Ibn 'Umar said to him, "Leave them there as I am
happy with the decision of Allah's Apostle that there is no oppression
. "

We set out with Allah's Apostle in the year of Hunain, (the Prophet
gave me an armor). I sold that armor and bought a garden in the region
of the tribe of Bani Salama and that was the first property I got
after embracing Islam.

Allah's Apostle said, "The example of a good companion (who sits with
you) in comparison with a bad one, is I like that of the musk seller
and the blacksmith's bellows (or furnace); from the first you would
either buy musk or enjoy its good smell while the bellows would either
burn your clothes or your house, or you get a bad nasty smell
thereof."

Once the Prophet sent to 'Umar a silken two-piece garment, and when he
saw 'Umar wearing it, he said to him, "I have not sent it to you to
wear. It is worn by him who has no share in the Hereafter, and I have
sent it to you so that you could benefit by it (i.e. sell it)."

(mother of the faithful believers) I bought a cushion with pictures
on it. When Allah's Apostle saw it, he kept standing at the door and
did not enter the house. I noticed the sign of disgust on his face, so
I said, "O Allah's Apostle! I repent to Allah and H is Apostle .
(Please let me know) what sin I have done." Allah's Apostle said,
"What about this cushion?" I replied, "I bought it for you to sit and
recline on." Allah's Apostle said, "The painters (i.e. owners) of
these pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection. It will be
said to them, 'Put life in what you have created (i.e. painted).' "
The Prophet added, "The angels do not enter a house where there are
pictures."

The Prophet said, "The buyer and the seller have the option to cancel
or confirm the bargain before they separate from each other or if the
sale is optional." Nafi said, "Ibn 'Umar used to separate quickly
from the seller if he had bought a thing which he liked."

Allah's Apostle said, "The seller and the buyer have the option of
cancelling or confirming the deal unless they separate, or one of them
says to the other, 'Choose (i.e. decide to cancel or confirm the
bargain now)." Perhaps he said, 'Or if it is an optional sale.' " Ibn
Umar, Shuraih, Ash-Shabi, Tawus, Ata, and Ibn Abu Mulaika agree upon
this judgment.

The Prophet said, "The buyer and the seller have the option of
cancelling or confirming the bargain unless they separate, and if they
spoke the truth and made clear the defects of the goods, them they
would be blessed in their bargain, and if they told lies and hid some
facts, their bargain would be deprived of Allah's blessings."

Narrated Abdullah bin Umar: Allah's Apostle said, "Both the buyer and
the seller have the option of cancelling or confirming a bargain
unless they separate, or the sale is optional." (See Hadith No.320).

Narrated Ibn Umar: Allah's Apostle said, "Both the buyer and the
seller have the option of cancelling or confirming the bargain, as
long as they are still together, and unless they separate or one of
them gives the other the option of keeping or re

The Prophet said, "No deal is settled and finalized unless the buyer
and the seller separate, except if the deal is optional (whereby the
validity of the bargain depends on the stipulations agreed upon)."

The Prophet said, "Both the buyer and the seller have the option of
cancelling or confirming the bargain unless they separate." The
sub-narrator, Hammam said, "I found this in my book: 'Both the buyer
and the seller give the option of either confirming or cancelling the
bargain three times, and if they speak the truth and mention the
defects, then their bargain will be blessed, and if they tell lies and
conceal the defects, they might gain some financial gain but they will
deprive their sale of (Allah's) blessings."

Allah's Apostle said, "An army will invade the Ka'ba and when the
invaders reach Al-Baida', all the ground will sink and swallow the
whole army." I said, "O Allah's Apostle! How will they sink into the
ground while amongst them will be their markets (the people who worked
in business and not invaders) and the people not belonging to them?"
The Prophet replied, "all of those people will sink but they will be
resurrected and judged according to their intentions."

Allah's Apostle said, "The congregational prayer of anyone amongst you
is more than twenty (five or twenty seven) times in reward than his
prayer in the market or in his house, for if he performs ablution
completely and then goes to the mosque with the sole intention of
performing the prayer, and nothing urges him to proceed to the mosque
except the prayer, then, on every step which he takes towards the
mosque, he will be raised one degree or one of his sins will be
forgiven. The angels will keep on asking Allah's forgiveness and
blessings for everyone of you so long as he keeps sitting at his
praying place. The angels will say, 'O Allah, bless him! O Allah, be
merciful to him!' as long as he does not do Hadath or a thing which
gives trouble to the other." The Prophet further said, "One is
regarded in prayer so long as one is waiting for the prayer."

While the Prophet was in the market, somebody, called, "O
Abu-l-Qasim." The Prophet turned to him. The man said, "I have called
to this (i.e. another man)." The Prophet said, "Name yourselves by my
name but not by my Kuniya (name)." (In Arabic world it is the custom
to call the man as the father of his eldest son, e.g. Abu-l-Qasim.)

A man at Al-Baqi' called, "O Abu-l-Qasim!" The Prophet turned to him
and the man said (to the Prophet ), "I did not intend to call you."
The prophet said, "Name yourselves by my name but not by my kuniya
(name)."

Once the Prophet went out during the day. Neither did he talk to me
nor I to him till he reached the market of Bani Qainuqa and then he
sat in the compound of Fatima's house and asked about the small boy
(his grandson Al-Hasan) but Fatima kept the boy in for a while. I
thought she was either changing his clothes or giving the boy a bath.
After a while the boy came out running and the Prophet embraced and
kissed him and then said, 'O Allah! Love him, and love whoever loves
him.'

Ibn 'Umar told us that the people used to buy food from the caravans
in the lifetime of the Prophet. The Prophet used to forbid them to
sell it at the very place where they had purchased it (but they were
to wait) till they carried it to the market where foodstuff was sold.
Ibn 'Umar said, 'The Prophet also forbade the reselling of foodstuff
by somebody who had bought it unless he had received it with exact
full measure'

I met Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As and asked him, "Tell me about the
description of Allah's Apostle which is mentioned in Torah (i.e. Old
Testament.") He replied, 'Yes. By Allah, he is described in Torah with
some of the qualities attributed to him in the Quran as follows:

"O Prophet ! We have sent you as a witness (for Allah's True religion)
And a giver of glad tidings (to the faithful believers), And a warner
(to the unbelievers) And guardian of the illiterates. You are My slave
and My messenger (i.e. Apostle). I have named you "Al-Mutawakkil" (who
depends upon Allah). You are neither discourteous, harsh Nor a
noise-maker in the markets And you do not do evil to those Who do evil
to you, but you deal With them with forgiveness and kindness. Allah
will not let him (the Prophet) Die till he makes straight the crooked
people by making them say: "None has the right to be worshipped but
Allah," With which will be opened blind eyes And deaf ears and
enveloped hearts."

Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Haram died and was in debt to others. I asked
the Prophet to intercede with his creditors for some reduction in the
debts. The Prophet requested them (to reduce the debts) but they
refused. The Prophet said to me, "Go and put your dates (In heaps)
according to their different kinds. The Ajwa on one side, the cluster
of Ibn Zaid on another side, etc.. Then call me." I did that and
called the Prophet He came and sat at the head or in the middle of the
heaps and ordered me. Measure (the dates) for the people (creditors)."
I measured for them till I paid all the debts. My dates remained as it
nothing had been taken from them. In other narrations, Jabir said; The
Prophet said, "He (i.e. 'Abdullah) continued measuring for them till
he paid all the debts." The Prophet said (to 'Abdullah), "Cut
(clusters) for him (i.e. one of the creditors) and measure for him
fully."

The Prophet said, "The Prophet Abraham made Mecca a sanctuary, and
asked for Allah's blessing in it. I made Medina a sanctuary as Abraham
made Mecca a sanctuary and I asked for Allah's Blessing in its
measures the Mudd and the Sa as Abraham did for Mecca.

Ibn 'Abbas said, "Allah's Apostle forbade the selling of foodstuff
before its measuring and transferring into one's possession." I asked
Ibn 'Abbas, "How is that?" Ibn 'Abbas replied, "It will be just like
selling money for money, as the foodstuff has not been handed over to
the first purchaser who is the present seller."

that the latter said, "Who has change?" Talha said, "I (will have
change) when our store-keeper comes from the forest."

Narrated 'Umar bin Al-Khattab: Allah's Apostle said, "The bartering of
gold for silver is Riba, (usury), except if it is from hand to hand
and equal in amount, and wheat grain for wheat grain is usury except
if it is form hand to hand and equal in amount, and dates for dates is
usury except if it is from hand to hand and equal in amount, and
barley for barley is usury except if it is from hand to hand and equal
in amount." (See Riba-Fadl in the glossary).

I saw the people buy foodstuff randomly (i.e. blindly without
measuring it) in the life-time of Allah's Apostle and they were
punished (by beating), if they tried to sell it before carrying it to
their own houses.

Rarely did the Prophet fail to visit Abu Bakr's house everyday, either
in the morning or in the evening. When the permission for migration to
Medina was granted, all of a sudden the Prophet came to us at noon and
Abu Bakr was informed, who said, "Certainly the Prophet has come for
some urgent matter." The Prophet said to Abu Bark, when the latter
entered "Let nobody stay in your home." Abu Bakr said, "O Allah's
Apostle! There are only my two daughters (namely 'Aisha and Asma')
present." The Prophet said, "I feel (am informed) that I have been
granted the permission for migration." Abu Bakr said, "I will
accompany you, O Allah's Apostle!" The Prophet said, "You will
accompany me." Abu Bakr then said "O Allah's Apostle! I have two
she-camels I have prepared specially for migration, so I offer you one
of them. The Prophet said, "I have accepted it on the condition that I
will pay its price."

Allah's Apostle forbade the selling of things by a town dweller on
behalf of a desert dweller; and similarly Najsh was forbidden. And one
should not urge somebody to return the goods to the seller so as to
sell him his own goods; nor should one demand the hand of a girl who
has already been engaged to someone else; and a woman should not try
to cause some other woman to be divorced in order to take her place.

A man decided that a slave of his would be manumitted after his death
and later on he was in need of money, so the Prophet took the slave
and said, "Who will buy this slave from me?" Nu'aim bin 'Abdullah
bought him for such and such price and the Prophet gave him the
slave.

Allah's Apostle forbade the sale called 'Habal-al-Habala which was a
kind of sale practiced in the Pre-lslamic Period of ignorance. One
would pay the price of a she-camel which was not born yet would be
born by the immediate offspring of an extant she-camel.

Allah's Apostle forbade the selling by Munabadha, i.e. to sell one's
garment by casting it to the buyer not allowing him to examine or see
it. Similarly he forbade the selling by Mulamasa. Mulamasa is to buy a
garment, for example, by merely touching it, not looking at it.

The Prophet forbade two kinds of dressing; (one of them) is to sit
with one's legs drawn up while wrapped in one garment. (The other) is
to lift that garment on one's shoulders. And also forbade two kinds of
sale: Al-Limas and An-Nibadh.

The Prophet said, "Don't keep camels and sheep unmilked for a long
time, for whoever buys such an animal has the option to milk it and
then either to keep it or return it to the owner along with one Sa of
dates." Some narrated from Ibn Sirin (that the Prophet had said), "One
Sa of wheat, and he has the option for three days." And some narrated
from Ibn Sirin, " ... a Sa of dates," not mentioning the option for
three days. But a Sa of dates is mentioned in most narrations.

Whoever buys a sheep which has not been milked for a long time, has
the option of returning it along with one Sa of dates; and the Prophet
forbade going to meet the seller on the way (as he has no knowledge of
the market price and he may sell his goods at a low price).

Allah's Apostle said, "Do not go forward to meet the caravan (to buy
from it on the way before it reaches the town). And do not urge buyers
to cancel their purchases to sell them (your own goods) yourselves,
and do not practice Najsh. A town dweller should not sell the goods
for the desert dweller. Do not leave sheep unmilked for a long time,
when they are on sale, and whoever buys such an animal has the option
of returning it, after milking it, along with a Sa of dates or keeping
it. it has been kept unmilked for a long period by the seller (to
deceive others).

Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever buys a sheep which has been kept
unmilked for a long period, and milks it, can keep it if he is
satisfied, and if he is not satisfied, he can return it, but he should
pay one Sa of dates for the milk."

The Prophet said, "If a slave-girl commits illegal sexual intercourse
and it is proved beyond doubt, then her owner should lash her and
should not blame her after the legal punishment. And then if she
repeats the illegal sexual intercourse he should lash her again and
should not blame her after the legal punishment, and if she commits it
a third time, then he should sell her even for a hair rope."

Allah's Apostle was asked about the slave-girl, if she was a virgin
and committed illegal sexual intercourse. The Prophet said, "If she
committed illegal sexual intercourse, lash her, and if she did it a
second time, then lash her again, and if she repeated the third time,
then sell her even for a hair rope." Ibn Shihab said, "I don't know
whether to sell her after the third or fourth offense."

Allah's Apostle came to me and I told him about the slave-girl
(Buraira) Allah's Apostle said, "Buy and manumit her, for the Wala is
for the one who manumits." In the evening the Prophet got up and
glorified Allah as He deserved and then said, "Why do some people
impose conditions which are not present in Allah's Book (Laws)?
Whoever imposes such a condition as is not in Allah's Laws, then that
condition is invalid even if he imposes one hundred conditions, for
Allah's conditions are more binding and reliable."

Aisha wanted to buy Buraira and he (the Prophet ) went out for the
prayer. When he returned, she told him that they (her masters) refused
to sell her except on the condition that her Wala' would go to them.
The Prophet replied, 'The Wala' would go to him who manumits.' "
Hammam asked Nafi' whether her (Buraira's) husband was a free man or a
slave. He replied that he did not know.

I have given a pledge of allegiance to Allah's Apostle for to testify
that None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and Muhammad is
His Apostle, to offer prayers perfectly, to pay Zakat, to listen to
and obey (Allah's and His Prophet's orders), and to give good advice
to every Muslim.

Ibn 'Abbas said, "Allah's Apostle said, 'Do not go to meet the
caravans on the way (for buying their goods without letting them know
the market price); a town dweller should not sell the goods of a
desert dweller on behalf of the latter.' I asked Ibn 'Abbas, 'What
does he mean by not selling the goods of a desert dweller by a town
dweller?' He said, 'He should not become his broker.' "

Whoever buys an animal which has been kept unmilked for a long time,
could return it, but has to pay a Sa of dates along with it. And the
Prophet forbade meeting the owners of goods on the way away from the
market.

Allah's Apostle said, "You should not try to cancel the purchases of
one another (to get a benefit thereof), and do not go ahead to meet
the caravan (for buying the goods) (but wait) till it reaches the
market."

Aisha said, "Buraira came to me and said, 'I have agreed with my
masters to pay them nine Uqiyas (of gold) (in installments) one Uqiya
per year; please help me.' I said, 'I am ready to pay the whole amount
now provided your masters agree that your Wala will be for me.' So,
Buraira went to her masters and told them about that offer but they
refused to accept it. She returned, and at that time, Allah's Apostle
was sitting (present). Buraira said, 'I told them of the offer but
they did not accept it and insisted on having the Wala.'.' The Prophet
heard that." 'Aisha narrated the whole story to the Prophet . He said
to her, "Buy her and stipulate that her Wala' would be yours as the
Wala' is for the manumitted." 'Aisha did so. Then Allah's Apostle
stood up in front of the people, and after glorifying Allah he said,
"Amma Badu (i.e. then after)! What about the people who impose
conditions which are not in Allah's Book (Laws)? Any condition that is
not in Allah's Book (Laws) is invalid even if they were one hundred
conditions, for Allah's decisions are the right ones and His
conditions are the strong ones (firmer) and the Wala' will be for the
manumitted."

Aisha, (mother of the faithful believers) wanted to buy a slave girl
and manumit her, but her masters said that they would sell her only on
the condition that her Wala' would be for them. 'Aisha told Allah's
Apostle of that. He said, "What they stipulate should not hinder you
from buying her, as the Wala' is for the manumitted."

The Prophet said, "The selling of wheat for wheat is Riba (usury)
except if it is handed from hand to hand and equal in amount.
Similarly the selling of barley for barley, is Riba except if it is
from hand to hand and equal in amount, and dates for dates is usury
except if it is from hand to hand and equal in amount. (See Riba-Fadl
in the glossary).

The Prophet forbade Muzabana; and Muzabana is the selling of fresh
fruit (without measuring it) for something by measure on the basis
that if that thing turns to be more than the fruit, the increase would
be for the seller of the fruit, and if it turns to be less, that would
be of his lot.

Narrated Ibn 'Umar from Zaid bin Thabit that the Prophet allowed the
selling of the fruits on the trees after estimation (when they are
ripe).

that Malik bin Aus said, "I was in need of change for one-hundred
Dinars. Talha bin 'Ubaid-Ullah called me and we discussed the matter,
and he agreed to change (my Dinars). He took the gold pieces in his
hands and fidgeted with them, and then said, "Wait till my storekeeper
comes from the forest." 'Umar was listening to that and said, "By
Allah! You should not separate from Talha till you get the money from
him, for Allah's Apostle said, 'The selling of gold for gold is Riba
(usury) except if the exchange is from hand to hand and equal in
amount, and similarly, the selling of wheat for wheat is Riba (usury)
unless it is from hand to hand and equal in amount, and the selling of
barley for barley is usury unless it is from hand to hand and equal in
amount, and dates for dates, is usury unless it is from hand to hand
and equal in amount"

Allah's Apostle said, "Do not sell gold for gold unless equivalent in
weight, and do not sell less amount for greater amount or vice versa;
and do not sell silver for silver unless equivalent in weight, and do
not sell less amount for greater amount or vice versa and do not sell
gold or silver that is not present at the moment of exchange for gold
or silver that is present.

I heard Abu Said Al-Khudri saying, "The selling of a Dinar for a
Dinar, and a Dirham for a Dirham (is permissible)." I said to him,
"Ibn 'Abbas does not say the same." Abu Said replied, "I asked Ibn
'Abbas whether he had heard it from the Prophet s or seen it in the
Holy Book. Ibn 'Abbas replied, "I do not claim that, and you know
Allah's Apostle better than I, but Usama informed me that the Prophet
had said, 'There is no Riba (in money exchange) except when it is not
done from hand to hand (i.e. when there is delay in payment).' "

I asked Al-Bara' bin 'Azib and Zaid bin Arqam about money exchanges.
Each of them said, "This is better than I," and both of them said,
"Allah's Apostle forbade the selling of silver for gold on credit. "

that his father said, "The Prophet forbade the selling of gold for
gold and silver for silver except if they are equivalent in weight,
and allowed us to sell gold for silver and vice versa as we wished."

Allah's Apostle said, "Do not sell fruits of dates until they become
free from all the dangers of being spoilt or blighted; and do not sell
fresh dates for dry dates."

Narrated Salim and 'Abdullah from Zaid bin Habit' "Later on Allah's
Apostle permitted the selling of ripe fruits on trees for fresh dates
or dried dates in Bai'-l-'Araya, and did not allow it for any other
kind of sale."

The Prophet forbade the selling of fruits unless they get ripe, and
none of them should be sold except for Dinar or Dirham (i.e. money),
except the 'Araya trees (the dates of which could be sold for dates).

Allah's Apostle forbade the selling of fruits (fresh dates) for dried
dates but allowed the sale of fruits on the 'Araya by estimation and
their new owners might eat their dates fresh. Sufyan (in another
narration) said, "I told Yahya (a sub-narrator) when I was a mere boy,
'Meccans say that the Prophet allowed them the sale of the fruits on
'Araya by estimation.' Yahya asked, 'How do the Meccans know about
it?' I replied, 'They narrated it (from the Prophet ) through Jabir.'
On that, Yahya kept quiet." Sufyan said, "I meant that Jabir belonged
to Medina." Sufyan was asked whether in Jabir's narration there was
any prohibition of selling fruits before their benefit is evident
(i.e. no dangers of being spoilt or blighted). He replied that there
was none.

Allah's Apostle allowed the sale of 'Araya by estimating the dates on
them for measured amounts of dried dates. Musa bin 'Uqba said, "Al-
'Araya were distinguished date palms; one could come and buy them
(i.e. their fruits)."

The Prophet forbade the sale of fruits till their benefit is evident;
and the sale of date palms till the dates are almost ripe. He was
asked what 'are almost ripe' meant. He replied, "Got red and yellow."

Allah's Apostle forbade the sale of fruits till they are almost ripe.
He was asked what is meant by 'are almost ripe.' He replied, "Till
they become red." Allah's Apostle further said, "If Allah spoiled the
fruits, what right would one have to take the money of one's brother
(i.e. other people)?"

Narrated Ibn Shihab: If somebody bought fruits before their benefit
is evident and then the fruits were spoiled with blights, the loss
would be suffered by the owner (not the buyer).

Narrated Salim bin 'Abdullah from Ibn Umar: Allah's Apostle said, "Do
not sell or buy fruits before their benefit was evident and do not
sell fresh fruits (dates) for dried dates."

Allah's Apostle appointed somebody as a governor of Khaibar. That
governor brought to him an excellent kind of dates (from Khaibar). The
Prophet asked, "Are all the dates of Khaibar like this?" He replied,
"By Allah, no, O Allah's Apostle! But we barter one Sa of this (type
of dates) for two Sas of dates of ours and two Sas of it for three of
ours." Allah's Apostle said, "Do not do so (as that is a kind of
usury) but sell the mixed dates (of inferior quality) for money, and
then buy good dates with that money."

Anas said, "The Prophet forbade the selling of dates till they were
almost ripe." We asked Anas, "What does 'almost ripe' mean?" He
replied, "They get red and yellow. The Prophet added, 'If Allah
destroyed the fruits present on the trees, what right would the seller
have to take the money of his brother (somebody else)?' "

I was with the Prophet while he was eating spadix. He said, "From the
trees there is a tree which resembles a faithful believer." I wanted
to say that it was the date palm, but I was the youngest among them
(so I kept quiet). He added, "It is the date palm." Shuraih told the
weavers, "You are permitted to follow your own conventions to solve
your problems (it is legal for you to stick to your traditions in
bargain) . "

Narrated 'Abdul Wahab: Aiyub said: Muhammad said, "There is no harm in
selling for eleven what you buy for ten, and you are allowed to take a
profit for expenses . "

The Prophet told Hind, "Take what is reasonable and sufficient for you
and your sons." Allah says: Whoever is poor, can eat (from the
orphan's property) reasonably (according to his labors).

Al-Hasan hired a donkey from 'Abdullah bin Mirdas and asked him about
the hire. The latter replied that it was for two Daniqs (a Daniq
equals 116th Dirham). So Al-Hasan rode away. Another time, Al-Hasan
came to 'Abdullah bin Mirdas and asked him to hire the donkey to him
and rode away without asking him about the hire, but he sent him half
a Dirham.

Hind, the mother of Mu'awiya said to Allah's Apostle, "Abu Sufyan (her
husband) is a miser. Am I allowed to take from his money secretly?"
The Prophet said to her, "You and your sons may take what is
sufficient reasonably and fairly."

who heard Aisha saying, "The Holy Verse; 'Whoever amongst the
guardians is rich, he should take no wages (from the property of the
orphans) but If he is poor, let him have for himself what is just and
reasonable (according to his labors)' (4.6) was revealed concerning
the guardian of the orphans who looks after them and manages favorably
their financial affairs; If the guardian Is poor, he could have from
It what Is just and reasonable, (according to his labors)."

The Prophet said, "While three persons were walking, rain began to
fall and they had to enter a cave in a mountain. A big rock rolled
over and blocked the mouth of the cave. They said to each other,
'Invoke Allah with the best deed you have performed (so Allah might
remove the rock)'. One of them said, 'O Allah! My parents were old and
I used to go out for grazing (my animals). On my return I would milk
(the animals) and take the milk in a vessel to my parents to drink.
After they had drunk from it, I would give it to my children, family
and wife. One day I was delayed and on my return I found my parents
sleeping, and I disliked to wake them up. The children were crying at
my feet (because of hunger). That state of affairs continued till it
was dawn. O Allah! If You regard that I did it for Your sake, then
please remove this rock so that we may see the sky.' So, the rock was
moved a bit. The second said, 'O Allah! You know that I was in love
with a cousin of mine, like the deepest love a man may have for a
woman, and she told me that I would not get my desire fulfilled unless
I paid her one-hundred Dinars (gold pieces). So, I struggled for it
till I gathered the desired amount, and when I sat in between her
legs, she told me to be afraid of Allah, and asked me not to deflower
her except rightfully (by marriage). So, I got up and left her. O
Allah! If You regard that I did if for Your sake, kindly remove this
rock.' So, two-thirds of the rock was removed. Then the third man
said, 'O Allah! No doubt You know that once I employed a worker for
one Faraq (three Sa's) of millet, and when I wanted to pay him, he
refused to take it, so I sowed it and from its yield I bought cows and
a shepherd. After a time that man came and demanded his money. I said
to him: Go to those cows and the shepherd and take them for they are
for you. He asked me whether I was joking with him. I told him that I
was not joking with him, and all that belonged to him. O Allah! If You
regard that I did it sincerely for Your sake, then please remove the
rock.' So, the rock was removed completely from the mouth of the
cave."

We were with the Prophet when a tall pagan with long matted unkempt
hair came driving his sheep. The Prophet asked him, "Are those sheep
for sale or for gifts?" The pagan replied, "They are for sale." The
Prophet bought one sheep from him.

The Prophet said, "The Prophet Abraham emigrated with Sarah and
entered a village where there was a king or a tyrant. (The king) was
told that Abraham had entered (the village) accompanied by a woman who
was one of the most charming women. So, the king sent for Abraham and
asked, 'O Abraham! Who is this lady accompanying you?' Abraham
replied, 'She is my sister (i.e. in religion).' Then Abraham returned
to her and said, 'Do not contradict my statement, for I have informed
them that you are my sister. By Allah, there are no true believers on
this land except you and 1.' Then Abraham sent her to the king. When
the king got to her, she got up and performed ablution, prayed and
said, 'O Allah! If I have believed in You and Your Apostle, and have
saved my private parts from everybody except my husband, then please
do not let this pagan overpower me.' On that the king fell in a mood
of agitation and started moving his legs. Seeing the condition of the
king, Sarah said, 'O Allah! If he should die, the people will say that
I have killed him.' The king regained his power, and proceeded towards
her but she got up again and performed ablution, prayed and said, 'O
Allah! If I have believed in You and Your Apostle and have kept my
private parts safe from all except my husband, then please do not let
this pagan overpower me.' The king again fell in a mood of agitation
and started moving his legs. On seeing that state of the king, Sarah
said, 'O Allah! If he should die, the people will say that I have
killed him.' The king got either two or three attacks, and after
recovering from the last attack he said, 'By Allah! You have sent a
satan to me. Take her to Abraham and give her Ajar.' So she came back
to Abraham and said, 'Allah humiliated the pagan and gave us a
slavegirl for service."

Sad bin Abi Waqqas and 'Abu bin Zam'a quarreled over a boy. Sad said,
"O Allah's Apostle! This boy is the son of my brother ('Utba bin Abi
Waqqas) who took a promise from me that I would take him as he was his
(illegal) son. Look at him and see whom he resembles." 'Abu bin Zam'a
said, "O Allah's Apostle! This is my brother and was born on my
father's bed from his slave-girl." Allah's Apostle cast a look at the
boy and found definite resemblance to 'Utba and then said, "The boy is
for you, O 'Abu bin Zam'a. The child goes to the owner of the bed and
the adulterer gets nothing but the stones (despair, i.e. to be stoned
to death). Then the Prophet said, "O Sauda bint Zama! Screen yourself
from this boy." So, Sauda never saw him again.

Abdur-Rahman bin Auf said to Suhaib, 'Fear Allah and do not ascribe
yourself to somebody other than your father.' Suhaib replied, 'I would
not like to say it even if I were given large amounts of money, but I
say I was kidnapped in my childhood.' "

Hakim bin Hizam said, "O Allah's Apostle! I used to do good deeds in
the Pre-lslamic period of Ignorance, e.g., keeping good relations with
my Kith and kin, manumitting slaves and giving alms. Shall I receive a
reward for all that?" Allah's Apostle replied, "You embraced Islam
with all the good deeds which you did in the past."

Allah's Apostle said, "By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, son of Mary
(Jesus) will shortly descend amongst you people (Muslims) as a just
ruler and will break the Cross and kill the pig and abolish the Jizya
(a tax taken from the non-Muslims, who are in the protection, of the
Muslim government). Then there will be abundance of money and no-body
will accept charitable gifts.

Once 'Umar was informed that a certain man sold alcohol. 'Umar said,
"May Allah curse him! Doesn't he know that Allah's Apostle said, 'May
Allah curse the Jews, for Allah had forbidden them to eat the fat of
animals but they melted it and sold it."

While I was with Ibn 'Abbas a man came and said, "O father of 'Abbas!
My sustenance is from my manual profession and I make these pictures."
Ibn 'Abbas said, "I will tell you only what I heard from Allah's
Apostle . I heard him saying, 'Whoever makes a picture will be
punished by Allah till he puts life in it, and he will never be able
to put life in it.' " Hearing this, that man heaved a sigh and his
face turned pale. Ibn 'Abbas said to him, "What a pity! If you insist
on making pictures I advise you to make pictures of trees and any
other unanimated objects."

that while he was sitting with Allah's Apostle he said, "O Allah's
Apostle! We get female captives as our share of booty, and we are
interested in their prices, what is your opinion about coitus
interrupt us?" The Prophet said, "Do you really do that? It is better
for you not to do it. No soul that which Allah has destined to exist,
but will surely come into existence.

that Allah's Apostle was asked about an unmarried slave-girl who
committed illegal sexual intercourse. They heard him saying, "Flog
her, and if she commits illegal sexual intercourse after that, flog
her again, and on the third (or the fourth) offense, sell her."

I heard the Prophet saying, "If a slave-girl of yours commits illegal
sexual intercourse and her illegal sexual intercourse is proved, she
should be lashed, and after that nobody should blame her, and if she
commits illegal sexual intercourse the second time, she should be
lashed and nobody should blame her after that, and if she does the
offense for the third time and her illegal sexual intercourse is
proved, she should be sold even for a hair rope."

The Prophet came to Khaibar and when Allah made him victorious and he
conquered the town by breaking the enemy's defense, the beauty of
Safiya bint Huyai bin Akhtab was mentioned to him and her husband had
been killed while she was a bride. Allah's Apostle selected her for
himself and he set out in her company till he reached Sadd-ar-Rawha'
where her menses were over and he married her. Then Hais (a kind of
meal) was prepared and served on a small leather sheet (used for
serving meals). Allah's Apostle then said to me, "Inform those who are
around you (about the wedding banquet)." So that was the marriage
banquet given by Allah's Apostle for (his marriage with) Safiya. After
that we proceeded to Medina and I saw that Allah's Apostle was
covering her with a cloak while she was behind him. Then he would sit
beside his camel and let Safiya put her feet on his knees to ride (the
camel).

I heard Allah's Apostle, in the year of the Conquest of Mecca, saying,
"Allah and His Apostle made illegal the trade of alcohol, dead
animals, pigs and idols." The people asked, "O Allah's Apostle! What
about the fat of dead animals, for it was used for greasing the boats
and the hides; and people use it for lights?" He said, "No, it is
illegal." Allah's Apostle further said, "May Allah curse the Jews, for
Allah made the fat (of animals) illegal for them, yet they melted the
fat and sold it and ate its price."

I saw my father buying a slave whose profession was cupping, and
ordered that his instruments (of cupping) be broken. I asked him the
reason for doing so. He replied, "Allah's Apostle prohibited taking
money for blood, the price of a dog, and the earnings of a slave-girl
by prostitution; he cursed her who tattoos and her who gets tattooed,
the eater of Riba (usury), and the maker of pictures."